The wines of the Monticello Wine Trail again turned in a stellar performance in the 2015 Virginia Governor’s Cup competition. While the 32 Monticello Wine Trail wineries comprise only 13% of the state’s 250 wineries, they represent 42% of the Governor’s Cup Case! The Governor’s Cup Case are the 12 wines considered by the expert panel of judges to be the best 12 entries in the State, and in 2015 five of those wines were from the Monticello Wine Trail.

In this year’s competition, Monticello Wine Trail wines also represent 37% of the total gold medals awarded, and 28% (105 out 378) of the total medals awarded. In each of 2013, 2014, and 2015 competitions, five of the twelve wines awarded the recognition of the Governor’s Cup Case were from Monticello Wine Trail wineries.

Michael Shaps, with two of his wines in the Governor’s Cup Case, said “The Monticello AVA has the climate, soil and topography that provides for an ideal place to make wine. We have a great group of growers and winemakers that work together to improve the overall quality of our wines, so that we can be among the best in Virginia.”

Monticello Wine Trail wineries often work together to improve their product. Starting in 2014, the Monticello Wine Trail initiated the Winemaker’s Research Exchange. Monticello Wine Trail winemakers agree to certain winemaking experiments which are conducted by the member wineries. Sensory evaluations are conducted at group meetings, and the results are documented. From this, winemakers and wineries can learn not only from their own studies but from those of neighboring wineries, with information specific to the region’s terroir.

The Monticello Wine Trail also hosts its own competition, the Monticello Cup, with entries now being submitted. Winners of the Monticello Cup will be announced on Thursday evening April 9th, in a ticketed event open to the public at the Jefferson Theatre in downtown Charlottesville. In addition, all are welcome at the taste of Monticello Wine Festival on April 11th, at the Pavilion in downtown Charlottesville. Additional information and tickets are available here: http://monticellowinetrailfestival.com/festivalinfo/festival-schedule/#

The Monticello Wine Trail, formally known as the Jeffersonian Wine Grape Growers Society, is an association of 32 wineries in Central Virginia. The mission of the JWGGS is to support member wineries and our community while promoting quality grapes and wines produced in the Monticello AVA.